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A millage is a means of assessing a property tax. 1 mill is equal to one-tenth of a cent. It is important to note that the millages in this presentation are not new tax rates. They are a continuation of what is already in place. In addition, the Caddo Parish Commission has consistently decreased its property tax millages.

While some millages have been adjusted up and down, the total overall millage assessed has decreased.

Operations include our 14 park sites, such as Earl G. Williamson, Eddie D. Jones and Walter B. Jacobs Nature Parks; community events such as the annual Christmas on Caddo Fireworks Celebration, Gusher Day, Owl Night and a host of other initiatives, including basketball tournaments, hiking and nature trails and paths and recreational programs. Other operations include boat launches, our historical bridge and monuments as well as landscaping and grass maintenance, with a total of 16 employees and local volunteers.

What does the recreation millage cost you as a homeowner? A home valued at $100,000 currently costs a homeowner $2.00 a year, or 17 cents per month. The same formula applies to higher home values.

Millage #2: Public Health

.87 property millage; funds 50% of the operations needed to maintain and operate public health units, mosquito and rodent control units and animal control facilities.

Operations include citizen protection from stray and uncontrollable animals and protection and welfare of domestic animals, animal rescue and pet adoption, spay and neuter surgeries, educational programs for pet safety and coordination with animal rescue groups and volunteers. It also includes mosquito spraying to combat diseases such as West Nile and Zika, mosquito monitoring to determine causes for disease and viruses, as well as neighborhood inspection for mosquito breeding sites. These operations utilize 38 employees and numerous volunteers and allow the Commission to provide the services necessary to protect citizens, provide animal welfare and combat mosquitoes.

What does the public health millage cost you? A home valued at $100,00 costs the owner $2.00 a year, or 17 cents a month and follows the same formula for homes at a higher value.

Again, this millage is not an increase—it is the same millage rate as 2016.

Millage #3: Juvenile Court and Juvenile Detention:

1.97 millage; funds 50% of the operations needed to maintain, equip and operate the Juvenile Court and Detention facilities.

Operations include probation supervision and compliance for over 1,000 juveniles a year, Drug Court and Family Preservation Courts, the Mental Health Assessment Center for juveniles, the Restorative Justice Division Program and the Misdemeanor and Truancy referral center. Operations also include a 29 bed juvenile detention facility and the housing, security, nutrition and education for those juveniles in detention. Over 800 juveniles a year come through the Parish’s facility. Juvenile operations allow the commission to deliver the services necessary to enhance public safety by providing a functioning juvenile justice system.

What does the Juvenile millage cost Caddo residents? A home valued at $100,000 currently costs the owner $5.00 a year, or 42 cents a month, with the same formula applying to higher value homes.

Again, this millage is not an increase—it is the same millage rate as 2016.

Operations include providing the business locations for the Caddo Parish Sheriff, Caddo District Attorney, Caddo Clerk of Court, Caddo Tax Assessor, Caddo Coroner and the Caddo Registrar of Voters. These operations allow the Parish to provide safe buildings for the public to utilize to vote, obtain marriage licenses and birth certificates, file home deeds and legal notices, appear in court and other vital functions.

These operations also include all renovations and construction of 33 Parish buildings, over 10,000 building maintenance work orders per year, security for all buildings in conjunction with the Sheriff’s office and establishment of voting locations in conjunction with the Registrar of Voters. 50 employees perform these operations, which allow the Commission to provide safe and secure buildings for Parish citizens to conduct routine business.

What’s the cost of the building milllage to you as a Caddo resident? An owner with a home valued at $100,000 currently pays $7.00 a month, or 58 cents a year, with amounts adjusted for each home value.

As with the other millages, this not an increase—it is the same millage rate as 2016.

Item #5:Sales Tax Rededication

1.5% sales tax rededication; authorizes the Commission to rededicate the proceeds for the 1% road sales tax and the .5% solid waste tax to be used for roads, bridges, drainage, solid waste, and water and sewer infrastructure.

This rededication is not an increase—this makes the authorized purposes for the 1% sales tax and the .5% sales tax the same. This would allow the Commission to use the funds where they are most needed instead of restricting them for any one dedicated purpose.

It is important to note that only residents outside the city limits of Shreveport and city limits of Vivian will vote on this item on Election Day.

Why is the Parish Renewing Now?

The Parish is renewing these millages for several reasons:

For good planning purposes, it is best to call an election no later than one year before a millage expires. It is the practice of the Commission to call one renewal election for all millages that would expire within four years of the proposed election date.

The Commission would have to call 2 additional elections for those millages that expire in 2020 and 2021. Calling the election for the items in question saves Caddo Parish taxpayers an estimated $400,000 in costs associated with calling an election.